Brush for use in floor processing apparatus



Sept. 21, 1954 w s FlNNELL 2,689-,358

BRUSH FOR USE IN FLOOR PROCESSING APPARATUS Original Filed July 13, 1949 Aitor/1e ys Patented Sept. 21, A1954 UNITED vSTATES PATENT OFFICE BRUSH FOR USE IN FLOOR PROCESSING APPARATUS p Walter S. Finnell, Elkhart, Ind.

Original application July 13, 1949, Serial No. 104,500. Divided and this application April 19, Y' 1951, Serial No. 221,899

2 Claims; 1

application Serial Number 104,500, led on July 1-3, 1949, and relates to a Brush for Use in Floor Processing Apparatus, and more particularly to a brush having bristles and rubber scouring members. Such brushes may be used for any purpose and are particularly useful in connection with :Iloor processing apparatus as disclosed in the, copending application, Serial Number 81,035, led on March 12, 1949, now U. S. Patent No. 2,600,233.

An object of the invention is to produce a long wearing brush.

Another object isto produce a brush of the class described having both bristle and rubber scouring members whereby the eflicien'cy of the brush is increased as compared to brushes having only bristles or rubber members.

Another A object is to provide an improved mounting for a brush of the character described whereby the brush is evenly and quickly applied to rotary floor treating apparatus of any type, such for example, as that described in the aforesaid copending application.

A further object is to provide a resilient mounting for a brush of the character described whereby the `brush may automatically adjust itself to uneven surfaces to which it is applied.

Other objects and advantages will be appar-` ent from the following specification and accompanying drawings wherein, by way of illustration, the invention is applied to a brush for iloor treating machines.

It will be understood. however, that details of construction can be varied within Wide limits, the invention being as defined in the appended claims.

In the accompanying drawings:

Figure `1 is a side view of a brush and its mounting embodying the invention;

Figure 2 is a sectional view of the brush only, on the line 2, 2, Figure 1;

Figure 3 is a sectional end View of Figure 1 on the line 3, 3, thereof;

Figure 4 is a fragmentary view of the bottom of the brush shown in any of the figures, showing the staggered arrangement;

lFigure 5 is a plan view looking down on the rotary member of a floor treating machine equipped with the brushes and mountings therefor shown in the preceding figures; and

Figure 6 is a sectional view on the line 6, 6, Figure 5.

Referring to Figure 2 the numeral I0 denotes a center block of woodor other suitable material 2 i Y which extends lengthwise of the brush and which may contain a plurality of tufts of bristles II, I2 arranged in rows or in any suitablemanner, and secured in the block in any suitable way.

Placed on each side of block I0 are a plurality of fiat separate stripsiof rubber material such as may be cut from 'old tire casings or the like.

The strips comprise alternate layers of cord and of gum rubber vulcanized together whereby the gum enters between the cords and secures the cords of the respective layers to oneanother and secures the layers into a' mass. In the layers the cords extend diagonally or on a bias, and the cords of one layer are arranged to extend crosswise or in directions intersecting the direction in which the cords of the adjacent layers extend. The cords -and the rubber gum being vulcanized into a mass, a tough resilient structure is provided which is excellent for this purpose.

The two sets of flat strips are designated I3, I-I in the drawings, and while 6 strips in each set are shown, it will be understood that any lesser or greater number may be used.

Each strip is transversely slit as indicated at I5 whereby a plurality of comb-like teeth I6` are provided extending downwardly to the clamp members I1, I8 as shown.

Preferably the assembly of the steps is such that the teeth I6 are staggered as .shown in Figure 4, wherein the teeth I6 in one row span.

the spaces l5 in the adjacent row. This arrangement permits a solid yet yielding surface for engagement `with the surface to be cleaned.

All the rubber strips are perforated together with block I0 and are'spanned by the clamp members I1, I8 which are also perforated to receive screws I9 which extend through the entire assembly which is drawn together and clamped by nuts 20. To prevent uneven wear the rubber strips can be laid up with the ply of the cords therein running in opposite directions as indicated by the shading in the sectional figures. This also causes the teeth I6 when subjected to pressure to tend to move in opposite directions in each strip.

No acid dip or other processing is necessary to pre-form teeth I6, and the brush is ready for use when assembled as above described.

The complete brush as above described can be usedfor many purposes for which brushes are commonly used and has good wearing qualities, as compared with all-bristle or all-rubber brushes. The rubber gives a scraping or scouring action and the bristles penetrate small cracks, etc., too small for the teeth I6 to enter. .The result is a better, quicker action than heretofore obtained.

Referring to Figures 1 and 3, the brush above described has an extension member 2| secured to the topoftclamp 11.8.y in any .suitable manner or by welding, :and extending outwardly from this member and secured thereto by screws 22 or in any manner is the U-shape'd spring 23" having the downwardly extendingy projection 24 forming a stop as best seen in Figure I.

Spring 23 is secured in any suitable manner as by bolts 25 to the mounting plate 2B. ,.zlsorsut-y ably secured to the clamp la is a guide. mem.- ber 21 of any suitable shape .to cooperate' with. the iixed member 28 suitably secured to the plate 2'6.

As best seen from Figure 1, the brush-y is new resiliently mounted on plate 26 and is urged downwardly therefrom byVv its own weight plus.

spring 23;.S0 thatit-Y mayyield. and moyefper pendicnlar to. the surface itengages; The stop; 24 limitsithecompress-ion that can be applied to the1 Uf-spring. Y

1A: plurality of the brushes, each. mounted.- asi above.. describech, canA be assembled on the plate 26. asi; indicated inj dotted. lines,-l Egure'; 5. The platey is mounted by means. of screws 2.9'` on asp-ider 3B whichisrrota-ted. by any suitable means' (such, as the device shown, inthe aforesaid` copending application) inl thefdirection of. the ar- IOW..

Water may now. be supplied; to thev rotating;

brushes.; via.. pipe 31 and wil-l fall downwardly through. the. openings 32 inthe; spider; 3u, and impinge on. the surface being, cleaned.

The brushes being. placed. asr shown, tend to` ult-ee the water inwardly,V sweeping it under the brushes and keeping it from owing radially. in fall. directions. Obviously, by setting the brushes 4.at various ang-les, the distributionof the water canbe regulated.

Each complete individual brush. assembled. and mounted.l as. above .,descitibed, is indicated in Figure` 5 by. the numeral 33.

.It will be seen that. .each individual brush forms a complete unit having a framework. and thatthe spring member 23. issecured toene of the framework and the guide. member 2] to. the

other end'thereof', andthat by removing screws 25; the brush units may be easily removedfrom the vmounting 'p'late 26;

Wha-t is claimed is:

1f. In a brush for use in a; floor processingv apparatus, a center block having a plurality of bristles secured thereto and extending freely therefrom, a plurality of strips of rubber material positioned at and overlying each side of said 5 block, clamp members overlying the outside surfaces of said rubber strips, one of said clamp members extending overr the back. said brush and overlying-the v'portion of said'f center block from which said bristles depend, said strips extending freely beyond said block and clamp members, saidstrips being transversely slit from their outer extremities inwardly to said clamp members to 'form comb-like teeth, and means passing through said block,'strips and clamp 15 members for securing same together to form a brush.

2. In-a brush. for. use in a floor processing apparatus, a center block having a plurality of bristles secured thereto and extending freely therefrom, a plurality of strips of rubber material` positioned atand overlying eachI sideoff. said block, clamp membersoverlying the outside surf. facesof said` rubber' strips, `said strips. extending freely beyond said block and clamp members, -5 said strips being transversely slit: freintheir' outer extremities. inwardly to said clamp mernbers to form comb-like teeth, said; strips being.

so relatively positioned thatl the: teeth oi?4 onev strip overlie the slits in adjacent.. teeth, and? References Cited in the file of this patent,v

3" UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 75,154 Grebinger Mar. 3, 1868. 96,219. Gibson Oct. 26,1869 40 823,725 Hayden June 19,190.6J

1,042,711 Moohead Oct. .29, 1912 1,251,250Y Libby Dec..- 25, 1917. 1,368,794 Fuller etal. July 26, 1932 1,982,345 Kirby Nov...27, 1934v 2,080,129 G-ulotta. l Mayrv 11,1937 2,273,817 Chellew Feb.- 24,y 1942. 2,441,172. Gordon Aug. 17` 1948*- FOREIGN PATENTS 50 Number Country Date4 487,655 Great Britain June 2331938'. 810,07 6 France Mar. Iii,l 1986 910,563l France Feb. 4,719.4@ 

